Safety control mechanism for band saw machines



R. L. CRANE Aug. 19, 1952 SAFETY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR BAND SAW MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 10, 1950 s- 9. 952 R. L. CRANE 2,607,373

SAFETY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR BAND SAW MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 10, 1950 R. L. CRANE Aug. 19, 1952 SAFETY CONTROL MECHANISM FOR BAND SAW MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 10, 1950 Patented Aug. 19, 1952 SAFETY GbNTROL MECHANISM FOR BAND SAW MACHINES Robert L. Crane, Glen Lake, Minn., assignor to Continental Machines, 1210., Savage,Minn., a-

corporation of Minnesota Application May 10, 1950, Serial No. 161,055

My invention relates to machine tools of the type employing an endless cutting band, such as a band saw or the like, and more specifically to improvements in machine tools of the above type, whereby to increase the efiiciency and safety of operation thereof. I v

An important object of my invention is the provision of means for maintaining a uniform selected band tensioning pressure upon the cutting band irrespective of expansion or contraction of the band. I

.Another object of my invention is the provision of tensioning pressuremeans for the cutting band which will maintain said cutting band at a predetermined tension for an appreciable length of time after the machine has been shut down. I

Another object of my invention is the provision of means responsive to breakage of the cutting band for automatically and immediately rendering the machine inoperative.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of brake mechanism associated with the band-carrying wheels of a machinetool, as set forth, said brake mechanism responsive to breakage of the cutting band to quickly stop rotation of said wheels.

Another object of my invention is the provision of fluid pressure means for applying tension to said cutting band.

Generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices, combinations of devices and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a sawing machine built in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail, partly in front elevation and partly in section, taken substantially on theline 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail in elevation, as seen from the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the fluid pressure system of my invention;

Fig. 6 (sheet 2) is a view in perspective ofa valve element of Fig. 5, utilized in the fluid pressure system; and

Fig. 7 (sheet 3) is a wiring diagram incorporated in' my invention.

Referring with greater detail to the drawings, the numeral I indicates in its entirety a frame 4 an... (o1.143 2v) structure comprising a base2, a generally vertical column 3, and ahead 4; The head 4 projects laterally outwardly of the upper end of the column 3, overlying a laterally projected portion of the base 2, to form a throat or'working space-in whichis disposed a work table 5 mounted on the base 2. A band saw carrying drive wheel 6 is mounted on the base 2 below the table 5, and an idler wheel I is mounted for rotation in'the head 4 in tandem relationship to the drivewheel 6. An endless cutting band 8, in the nature'of a band saw or the like, runs over the wheels 6 and I and through a slot 9 in the work table 5,. being guided by guide rollers ill of a saw guide I I, secured to the head 4 by means of a support-' ing post l2.- The drive wheelfi is mounted fast on a shaft l3, which is driven from a drive motor 14, by means of V-belts l5 and 16, a conventional variable speed pulley l1 and suitable transmis sion mechanism, not shown, but contained within the base 2. The variable-speed pulley I1 is journalled to a mounting bracket .1 8 pivotally secured to the base 2', as indicated 'at'l9. The variable speed pulley l1 and transmission mechanism; and other transmission mechanism, not shown, form no pertinent part of the instant invention, and it is thought that detailed showing and description thereof is therefore unnecessary. j

The idler wheel I is mounted fast on the 'outer end of shaft 20, which is journalled in a floating bearing bracket 2| by means of spaced anti-Inca tion bearings 22 and 23. The bearing bracket 2 I is pivotally mounted on ashaft 24 extending transversely of a supporting member 25, which is mounted for vertical sliding movements on a mounting plate 26 rigidly secured to a wall section 21 of the head 4 by nut-equipped bolts or the like 28. The bearing bracket 2| is provided with an upstanding lug 29, which forms the base of support for one end of a compression spring 30 interposed therebetween and the upper end portion of the supporting member 25, whereby'to bias the bearing bracket 2| in one direction-of pivotal movement about the axis of theshaft 24. A depending ear 3] integrally formed withv the bearing bracket 2! is adapted to have abutting engagement with one end of a push rod 32 axially slidable in a laterally extended boss 33 integrally formed with the supporting member 25 at its lower end. The push rod 32 is adaptedto be moved by an adjustment knob or hand wheel 34 rigidly mounted on a vertical shaft 35 journalled in the bottom portion of the head 4. The upper end of the shaft 35 is cross-sectionally polygonal, as indicated at 36, and has telescoping of a blockelikeleverwl pivotally mountedionzthe bracket 40% Aportion offthe lever;4:| engages the;

projecting end of the push rod 32 and is adapted to move the push rod upon rotation of the knob 34-:

in one direction to tilt the idler wheel! in one direction against bias of the compressionispring 30. Rotation of the knob 34 in the opposite direction will cause the screw-or -shaft.3& to be= moved away from the lever .4l;.jpermitting'thez spring to tilt the idler wheel 1 in the opposite-5:: direction. It should be notedsthat whenthe cutting band 8 is mounted on the wheels ii'and- 1, tension of the cutting band 8 will be: added. f

to the bias of the spring 3E1 to cause the depending earefil; of the-.bearing bracketli to :bear against theeadjacent end of -thea-push.rod 32-. Thisrload isetrans-ferred :through the 'lever 4|- to. the screw 39. and-the bracket. portion 40 in all zDOSitiOllS of the;supporting member- 25, .with respect to: the mounting plate-26.. By; reference toFig. 2,- it wi-ll be seenthat the telescopic sliding. relationship betweenthe-lower end-38 oflthe screw 39:and.the sleeve a 3?! permits free vertical movement. of the screw 39:ands associated. parts. with respect to.- the {knob therpurppse of. raising; and lowering the idlerr'wheeh -'l and; bearing, bracket: 21 therefor withirespect to the :drivevwheel. & to :make, possibleathesaDPlicationofi nthezeuttinggband. 8' .to .the wheels; 6: and l 3 and tin apply7 proper tension. to the:- cutting band; I.. provide? fluids pressure operatedtmeans in .the natureaof" a-fluid-pressure actuators. cylinder: 42: and a= cooperating; piston 43:." .Aplu'ngers' rod? 44:; is, mountedv for limited axial. sliding: movements; with respect i to the pistons 43:5 and. projects: axially; outwardly of one endof 'the cylinder 42; terminating: at its upper end ina -slack'motion: connection with: the'rsupe porting: member: 25:: With; referencetosl igs; 2. and 3; it will: bez seen that the cylinder; 42 r is rig-idly mounted i by. machine a screws; or" the like 45 to the lower 'endiof the. supporting member 26. A snap" ring or: collarf=46' at; the: lower: end or the piston rod or: plunger" 44" engages:- one sideofithe piston 43 whereby to limitfaxialxmovement ofthe-plunger rod 44 with irespectrthereto in one direetion. A coil i compressiomspring: 4-1 is" interposed 1 between theisi'deof thepiston243 opposite thesnap ring: 46$ and a. second; snap ring or collar 45 axially outwardly spaced 2 from the piston' 43; andbiases the piston 43 toward engagement of its lowenface with .the1snap:.-ring 46:1 fora purpose which will ihereinafterrbez dee scribed.- A=- cup-like washer 48" between. the upper end of the; spring 4-1 and 1 the snap a ring 48 retains thespring '4-1 in proper: position: about theplunger' 44-: Adjacentits upper: end portion,- the piston? rod 44* is provided with a diametrie callyfenlarged collar forming portion N ta which is-rigi'dly secured a laterally-projecting. arm. 5B1 Above-the arm 50, the plunger rod 44'- is* diametrically reduced as' 'indicated' at 51; said re-- duced portion" 5| extending upwardly through a downwardlyopening'recess- 52' inv the supporting'member 2 5. The portion 5| 1. further: extends through'an' opening'in the end wal153 of the recess '52 and terminates therebeyond in a diametrically-enlarged head- 54; As shown, when the arnr-engages th'e lower end of the-supporting member 25, the head 54 is in verticallyspaced relationship to the end wall 53 of the recess 52 whereby to provide said slack motion connection. A coil compression spring 55 encompasses the portion 5! of the plunger rod 44 within the recess 52 and exerts yielding bias to the supporting member 25'; :bearingrbracket 2 l andi idler wheel I. carrieditherebyg' in an i upward direction. The outer end of the arm 50 is adapted to engage a button 56 operatively associated with, a normally closed switch 5! contained withirr a.switchhousing 58 and mounted for commommovements with the supporting member-2 5,=.bearing3 bracket 2|, and idler wheel '1 ebytamomiting rplate 59 rigidly secured thereto and toithe supporting member 25.

' Fluid-under. pressure is supplied selectively to opposite ends ofthe cylinder 42 from a supply tankkfilDb'y a pump 6| driven from the motor I4 through the medium of 'a V-belt 62 running over suitable. pulleys on. the. motor, and pump. The

pumpcfil isinterposed in a. fluid. pressure. conduit- 63- which extends .to a. check .valve- 64in. a. valve block 65.. A-passage .66 .inthervalve block 65v ex.- tends 'fromthe check valve 64-to a-valve chamber 61 in which is mounted a directional-valve ele ment; 61% A pair of conduits 69" and, I0 extend from the valve chamber 61 to the lowerand upperends respectively of the cylinder 42. As shown in Figs.- 5. and=6, the valveelement 6B isformed to provide circumferentially-spaced axially-*ex-.-- tendingifaces or:sidest H, 12, .and .13, whichcooperate.- with 1 the. circular. Wall of v the chamber 61 .-to: define circumierentially spaced valve come r partmentsllih'lz ande'ltfi. The-valveelement Midis further provided adjacent-one end with; a transverse passage 14 extending from the face. H. to. the; side: of; the: element 68 between the faces.-l2:and.13.-. A--.second:passage.-l5. extends axially inwardly, from. the opposite-end of. the

valve element 68 terminatingshort.ofuthe transe verse :passage. 74; and has: communication; with a pair of. passages 16 which, extend. radially ins wardly, one each from .one of the faces 12 'and;'l3;

A; passage :11 rinzthe valve block 65 communicateswiththepassage 15andhas connection with afluid return conduit 18 leading therefrom'lto the supply'tankpfill. Asshown; aipressure relief :valve 19 has:connection'i with the'..fiuid;pressure con.- duit 63, as indicated at 80, and'withzthe return" conduit: 18; as at 8|. Manipulation of the a valve element 68tby means of its. handle 68' 'to'the position thereoftshown inzli'ig. 5 permits fluidto be forced under pressure fromthe supplytank- 69- through'the'pressure conduitzBB, the passagefifi,

the chamber '1 l the .passage 14in the valve-element 68, and the conduit69 to the lower end of the cylinder 42, whereby to raise the piston 43, piston rod 44,- and'supportingmember 25, thus applying tensioning pressure to the cutting band 8.

Use of cutting bands of'various widths in machines of the type exemplified generally'requires that blades of diiferentwidths are'maintained at'difierentdegrees of'tension. For example, the

tensioning pressurenecessary to place a cutting bandt three sixteenths inch wide under proper tensile strain for accurate work will usually be insufiicient for'a band one inch wide. For the purpose of applying'proper tensioning pressure conduit83 and a passage 84. 'The opposite side ing connected to the conduit 83 for indicatingthe exact pressure applied to the piston 43. Ina'smuch as the pump 6| operates continuously during'operation of the machine and delivers a' constant supply of fluid, a greater part of the fluidsupplied to the valve block 65 is b t-passed through the pressure regulator valve 82 and returns to the supply tank 60. A'pressure relief valve 19 provides anadditional safeguard to the fluid pressure system and insures a maximum safe operating pressure. During upward movements of the piston 43, fluid in the upper portion of the cylinder 42 will be moved through the conduit Hi into the chamber 13"from whence it will flow through the passage 16 extending inwardly from the face 13 and passage 15 of the valve element 68 into the passage 11 and return conduit 18 to the supply tank-6B. Movement of the valve element 68 in a clockwise direction with respect to Fig. 5, sufficient to-effect communication of the passage 14 with the conduit 10, will cause fluid under pressure to be delivered through the conduit to the upper portion of the cylinder 42 to cause downward movement of: the pis ton 43 and subsequent loosening of tension of the cutting band 8. Fluid from the bottom portion of the cylinder 42 is delivered through the conduit 69 to the passage'lfi opening onto the side 12 of the valve element 68' from whence'it flows to the supply tank through the passages l5 and TI and the return conduit "i8.

Inasmuch as the pump 6| is dependent for its until the spring 41 is compressed. Continued upward movement of the piston 43 will then raise the plunger rod M, thereby compressing the spring 55 and raising the supporting member 25 and parts carried thereby, including the idler wheel I. When the drive motor I4 and pump 8!- are manually shut off; fluid gradually leaks from the lower end portion of the cylinder 42 backwardly through the system. During this interval',-

the spring 4'! expands to maintain the cutting band 8 under substantially its operating tension for an appreciable length of time so that, when the machine is restarted, the cutting band 8 is in a sufficiently taut condition to prevent its slipping off from the wheels 6 and 1. In other words, the spring i! acts in the same manner as a conventional fluid pressure accummulator to accomplish the above end.

It is desirable, when the motor 14 is-shut off for any reason, to automatically cause the bandcarrying wheels 6 and i to decelerate rapidly to a complete stop. To accomplish this end, I provide a'fluid pressure-operated brake mechanism associated with each of the wheels 6 and l. The brake mechanism for the drive wheel 6 is identical to that associated with the idler wheel 1. Hence,

for the sake of brevity, only the brake mechanism associated with the idler wheel I is disclosed in detail. As shown in Fig. 2, a flanged coupling 8! is keyed or otherwise rigidly secured tothe rear end of the idler wheel shaft 28 and is provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced 6 axially rearwardly projecting pins 88 'onwhich is mounted for; slidingmovements an annular braking plate 88. Theplate 89 is biased toward engagement with'the coupling 81 by coil compres sion springs 3B on the several pins 88 and interposedtherebetw'een and the outer ends of said pins; The plate 89 partakes of common rotation with the shaft 28, the outer-edge portion thereof moving between a'pair of brake shoes 9! and 92,- the formerof which is relatively stationary and the} latter of 'which is relatively movable a" direction 'axi'ally'of the plate 89. The brake shoe elements 51 and =92 are mounted in a supportingbracket tflri'gi'dly secured to the rear end of the floatingbearing-bracket 2i and provided with a.

shown but contained within the base 2 of the ma chine. By particular reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen that the piston'95 is adapted to move the brake shoe element '92 and the braking plate'89.

axially toward the. brake shoe element 9| against bias of the springs 98, when fluid under pressure is admitted to the interior of the cylinder 94.

The cylinder 95 associated with each of the wheels Sand '1 is supplied with fluid under pressure from the pump iii through a conduitfifiKFig. 5) which terminates "in a solenoid-operated valve fland is adapted "to have communication with a-conduit 9%,whichisconnected to the conduit 53. The

v'alveii'i is of the type commonly used in fluid pressure systems and includes a valve element 99;

which ismovable from a position wherein thefluid to the brake mechanismsmay be discharged to the supply tank through a conduit Illil, or to a position wherein fluid under pressure flows from the pu'nipliii through the conduit 98, the valve 9?, and the conduit 95 to the brake mechanisms to set the same. f

Operation of the machine is "controlled by a plurality-of element s includingtheswitch 5'! and the solenoid-operated'valve' 91. Referring tothe wiring diagrarnof Fig, 7, it will be seen tl'iat'the drive motor 54 is connected toopposite'sides of a high voltage power line 18! by a pair of leads I02 and 163. interposed in-the lead W3 is'apair of spaced switch contacts I04 of a magnetically-;

operated switch I85. The contacts I!!! are adapted to be closed by a connector "HAG-secured to thearmature It! ofthe switch ms: The elec tromagneticwinding $98 of the switch lilii lies in a lowvoltage or pilot circuitcomprising a lead 169 extending from one of a pair of low voltage power lines Hi} and a lead iii extending thereto from the other ofsaidpair of lines I H]. Interposed in the lead W9 in series connection are a normally open momentary contact push button switch H2 and a normally closedpush button switch 1 Q3. The

normally closed switch 51 and the electromagnetic winding fi it of the solenoidoperated valve 91 are Av h ld n connected in series in the lead HI. circuit for the winding 198 comprises a pair of leads! i5 and iii? branching from the lead 109 on opposite'pside's of, the ,normallyopen switch"! l2.

The, leads H5 and I it terminate infcontact'elei ments 5 2?, which are adapted to be interconnected by a contact bar i i8 secured to the armature H3! of the magnetic switchliilE. For operating the drive motor I l independently or the magnetic switch I55, I provide a rnanually-operated normallyo'pen push buttomswitc h H9 interposed in a-lead'ilm-shuntedaroundtheswitchcontactsj04? inrthesleadd I13; 'I'heswitch I I 9 is oithe momen-- ta-ry contact; type; and; must. be held closed. for: thevdesiredilength of operating. time ofthemotor. I4: ThiS'iSWitCh permits operation of: the: motor M independently of the condition of the: switch 51.. Asshown; the solenoidroperated valve 91,,inits. energized: condition, closes off theconduit' 98 and pennits-theflow-of fluid. from the. conduit. 96 tozthe conduit I00. However, as indicated by dotteddinesxintFig. 5;.de-energization of the-.elec-- tromagnetic :winding I .I l of:the'EsOIenoid-Qperated'. vazlVes-Bkpermits spring I2 I-to move the valve;ele+- mentz99itoiitsidotted line. position'of Fig; 5 to permittfiuid: under: pressure? to flow fromthe conduit 98 tcrthe brake cylinder through theconduit 96.

Before; arcutting; band 81 is mounted on. the wheelsfiiandz'l, the spring 55 isin an expanded condition causingthe: outer-endof. the arm 50 to'engage thebottom 56" of. the'switch' 5'l 'to hold.

tlie same'inan open position; With thBTSWitCh' 57in an opencondition, the drive motor I4 and fluid pressure pump BI can be operated only through manipulation of the switch II9. After the bandfi has been placed over the wheels 6 and I, theoperator'sets the valve element 68in theposition illustrated in Fig. 5 and closesthe switch II9j whereby to energize themotor. I4 and cause fluid-tube. pumpedLto the. lower portion ofthe cylinder. 42. The. switch 9 isheldclosed until the-idlerwheel I is raisedby the piston. and plunger rod toa point where the. desired .tension on .the.- cutting band 8 is registered on .the pressure gauge- 86. When. the. tensioning. pres.- sure isapplied to thecutting band .8, the springs L1- and. 55 are 4 both. compressed, the bias; of the spring, 55, being entirely overcome and theinner end-of the arm 50.. being in. engagement with the lower endofthe supporting memberv 25. Raising. ofthe arm 50 with. respect. to the supporting; member. 25permits the-switch 51 to close, thus bringing the pilot circuit into condition forclosing,by-the switch I I2.. When the switch III is closed, the: electromagnetic winding, I08. of the magnetic switch I 05 is closed, causing the. motor I4 to. become energized and. the holding. circuit comprisingtheleads H5. and. IIS tobeclosed, W-lnle-the machine is running.. the cuttingband 8-=is causedto. track correctly on .the wheels Ii. and. I. by, manipulation. of the. wheel-tilting. knob. 34. Expansion of. thecutting band 8 during-opera.- tion.of. the machine is compensated forby con.- tinuous-pressure of. the fluidin thebottom. por.--- tion. of the. cylinder 42, thefluidsupply being, continuousirom the .pump BI. Should the cuttingbandB accidentally runofi. frombne of thewheels.6.and 1, or if thecutting band. 8. should. break, thedownward band-tensioning pressure of theuidler wheel-supporting member 25 is.re.- moved,. permitting bias of. the spring 55 to. raise. thesame-and theswitch 51 with respect. tothe. plungerrod. and the arm 50 thereon, whereby engagement .ofthe arm 50 withthe push button. 5.6lwill.open the circuitto the-electromagnetic winding I08. and render the motor. I 4 inoperative. As. hereinbefore. noted, opening of the switch 51 causes the. solenoid-operatedvalve .91 to move to a position. permitting application of fluidunder pressure. to. the brake cylinders 94 and causing. the brake. shoes 9| and 92 to exert braking pressure on theannular braking plates 89. This pressurelessens as the'motor I4 andpump 6| deceleratetto. a complete. stop at which time. the pressure..-ceases However, sufiicientpressure; is.

82 applied; during. the deceleration. intervali toe: be.- efiectiver inzstoppin ij rotation of the wheels 6-- and. I.

To. movetheidler wheel I inthe directiomof. thedrive wheel 6; itismerely necessary to mae nipulate the valve element 68 to permit ,fluid un-.- derrpressure to be pumped. to. the-upper part .-of the. cylinder. 4L and to close-theswitch II9.- to. start the-motor. Ilandpump 6| for a sufiicientperiod of time to permit the-fluidunder pres.- sure to. move the piston. 43. to the bottomof the cylinder 42. Under. normal conditions. when themachineis. manually shutoff.- by opening-the: switch I.I3,- the-circuitthrough theielectromagnetic. winding I -I 4 of the. solenoid..-o.perated= valve. 91 is. broken to automatically cause. thebrakes. associated. with. the: wheels 6 and. I to beiset. This feature: of.- the invention permits the cutting. band-to be stoppedivery quickly, thus-enabling, an operator to control the cutting to a nice de.-. gree and; inthe caseof: band breakage, rapid. stopping of rotation of the wheels Band 1.! pre vents the cutting. band. frombecoming entangled. and further damaged.

Fromthe-above it shouldibe. obviousthatrthe fluid pressure arrangement herein disclosed Willa maintain apredetermined band tensioning. pres.- sure against thepiston. 43- irrespective. of. volu-v metric displacement. in theexpansion. chamber. defined by the piston. and the cylinder 42;

My invention" hastbeen thoroughly testeda-nm foundto beiully satisfactory for theaccomplishement of a the objectives setforth; and,. while- I haveshow-n-and describeda commercial embodi-- ment of. my improved machine, itv will be understood that thesam'e-is capable.- of modification: withoutzdeparture from. the spirit and. scopeof theeinvention as defined in the claims.

What-I claim is:

l. In'a machine-of the class described, a frame structure, a drive wheel journalled on the'frame structure, a fioa-ting bearingmountedand guided in. theframe structure for movements toward and away from the drive wheel, an idler wheel journalled; insaid bearing, an endless cutting,-

band running over said wheels, power operatedmechanism' imparting rotation to said drive. wheel, saidpower operated mechanism including. amotor, band. tensioning pressure mechanism. urging; the idlerwheel bearing away from the drivewh'eeland" applying apredetermined pres. sure: to the: cutting: band, said: pressure mech-v a-nism. comprising. a fluid pressure cylinder,v a. cooperatingpiston plunger'extendable in the directionof-the floating bearing and being operatively engageable therewith under movements; thereofzin one direction of the bearingwhile allowing the bearing to move independently thereofinthe same-direction, a pump driven by said,

motor, and. fluid pressure connections between said pump and cylinder, yielding means inter. posed between the plunger and saidbearing and biasingsaid bearing, and idler wheelawayfrom said piston plunger, said yielding means exerting less pressure on the bearing than saidpressuremechanism. whereby said yielding meanswill be overcome bythepressure mechanism, and.

safety; control cut-oil mechanism, said safetycontrol mechanismcomprising a switch elementcontrolling energization of. the motor and a switch operating element normally maintaining. the switchelement inacondition to energize said motor, means mounting'one of saidelementsfor; common movements with: the hosting bearing. and. the other thereof for common movements.

with said piston plunger, breakage of the cutting band permitting said yielding means to move the bearing and the element mounted thereon with respect to the piston plunger and element associated therewith in a direction to de-energize said motor.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said switch element is mounted for common movements with said bearing, and in which said switch-operating element is mounted on said piston plunger for common movements therewith.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in further combination with fluid pressure-operated brake means operatively associated with said wheels, fluid pressure connections between said brake means and said pump, and valve means interposed in said connections and controlled by said switch element, whereby said brake means are energized to stop rotation of said wheels when said yielding means moves said floating bearing with respect to the piston plunger upon breakage of the cutting band.

4. In a machine of the class described, a frame structure, a drive wheel journalled on the frame structure, a floating bearing mounted and guided in the frame structure for movements toward and away from the drive wheel, an idler wheel journalled in said bearing, an endless cutting band running over said wheels, power-operated mechanism imparting rotation to said drive wheel, said power-operated mechanism including a motor and manually-operated control means therefor, band tensioning pressure mechanism urging the idler wheel bearing away from the drive wheel and applying a predetermined pressure to the cutting band, said pressure mechanism comprising a fluid pressure cylinder, a piston in said cylinder, a piston plunger extendable in the direction of the floating bearing and being operatively engageable therewith under movements thereof in one direction of the bearing while allowing the bearing to move independently thereof in the same direction, yielding means interposed between said piston and said plunger within said cylinder, a pump driven by said motor, fluid pressure connections between said pump and cylinder, said yieldingmeans maintaining tensioning pressure upon the cutting band when said motor is rendered inoperative by said manually-operated means, spring means interposed between said plunger and said bearing and biasing said bearing and idler wheel away from said piston plunger, said spring means exerting less pressure thereon than said pressure mechanism whereby said spring means will be overcome by the pressure mechanism, safety control cut-off mechanism or said motor, said safety control mechanism comprising a switch element controlling energization of the motor, a switch operating element normally maintaining the switch element in a condition to energize the motor. and means mounting one of said elements for common movements with said piston plunger and the other thereof for common movements with said floating bearing, breakage of the cutting band permitting said yielding means to move the bearing and the element mounted thereon with respect to the piston plunger and element associated therewith in a direction to deenergize said motor.

ROBERT L. CRANE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 313,035 Vernon Feb. 24, 1885 721,966 Prescott et a1. Mar. 3, 1903 798,569 Cleveland Aug. 29, 1905 1,074,197 Pelton Sept. 30, 1913 1,927,203 De Groot Sept. 19, 1933 2,205,632 Schwarz et al June 25, 1940 2,311,268 Tannewitz Feb. 16, 1943 2,372,393 Ray Mar. 27, 1945 2,395,237 swenson Feb. 19, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 751,826 France July 3, 1933 

